Youth with a talent for musical expression will liven things while Black Diamond and Turner Valley celebrate Canada’s birthday this week.
More than a dozen young up-and-coming musicians will step into the spotlight to share their talent in the two-day Diamonds in the Rough Family Music Festival in conjunction with the Canada Day Celebration at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink in Black Diamond July 1 and 2.
For some, it will be their first time stepping onto a public stage.
“All of them have done some cool stuff, but they’re not touring artists yet and their goal is to make products and tour so we’re in support of that,” said festival co-organizer and Turner Valley musician Deni Kobi “It’s just giving them a leg up.”
Kobi, who owns LYX Studios in Turner Valley, has been working with Black Diamond musician Daniel Sosnick to round up young musicians for the Canada Day celebration.
“It’s great for families to be able to come out and enjoy all of that entertainment with no gate charge,” he said. “We want to make it locally grown.”
For years, Kobi has been helping up-and-coming artists reach their musical goals and felt a Canada Day concert was a great way to give them exposure.
“The music industry can be tricky,” he said. “If your songs are a little bit out there, it’s tough to have a platform to play and express your art. From myself, growing up and playing and trying to find venues to work at and get exposure and get experience working with seasoned musicians, it was really difficult.”
To further assist the young musicians, Kobi is teaching a youth writers workshop and hosting an open jam during the second day of the event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s for anyone thinking about becoming an artist or songwriter and wanting to evolve that and find out some pointers to get them started,” he said.
In addition to the music festival, the Canada Day Celebration will include a pancake breakfast, face painting, airbrush tattoos, carnival games and food and market vendors starting at 10 a.m. on July 1.
Participants are invited to join in singing O Canada at 11 a.m., which will be followed with a performance by the Thundering Nations Dance Troupe and the line-up of musical talent until 9 p.m. Fireworks will be set off behind the Black Diamond Rona at dusk.
The Diamonds in the Rough Family Music Festival, beer gardens and food and market vendors will return on July 2 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festivities are taking place at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink this year rather than the Black Diamond municipal office parking lot, as it will be under construction, said Quinn Page, Black Diamond’s economic development and events manager
“There is more room and a larger grassy area at the rink so people can bring their lawn chairs and their blankets and hang out for the day,” she said.
Page said the Canada Day Celebration is a collaboration between the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley and various local organizations and groups to host an array of activities at no cost, with the exception of food and the opportunity for those ages 12 and older to jump on a large airbag with Vertical X Freestyle.
“We are actually saving a lot of money,” said Page. “The youth are performing for free, we are using a town venue and we have these community groups and organizations doing their part.”
Page said she is particularly excited about the Diamonds in the Rough Music Festival.
“This way we are able to have a two-day event that’s free and open for everybody,” she said. “For Black Diamond to be able to provide an opportunity like this right in our own hometown showcasing local talent and our local community organizations, people are really enthusiastic about it.”
A more detailed list of events is available online at town.blackdiamond.ab.ca
